Posted on 10/27/2007 4:42:13 AM PDT by skeptoid
It's not just flights that are getting delayed. U.S. airlines are also putting off purchases of new planes, meaning the nation's fleet of aircraft, on average, is aging right along with the passengers.
Northwest Airlines, for example, flies 109 of the oldest jetliners in the country, DC-9s, with an average age of 35 years. Northwest has yet to decide how to replace the DC-9s, which could remain in service another five years or more.
(Excerpt) Read more at seattlepi.nwsource.com ...
SNIP .. U.S. carriers collectively socked away about $28 billion in cash, as of June 30. But they are using it to pay down debt or as a financial cushion after lean years ....
On one hand we are constantly lectured about the trade deficit, NOW we are being lectured about one of our most successful export markets shipping planes over seas.
Could ONE time the Junk media simply report the story instead of going into hysterics about an imaginary “crisis”?
First, the article is a load of hooey.
US Airways has 92 new jets coming from 2008 through 2014.
Nobody wants to buy the A380 because most airport taxiways cannot handle it (aside from the delivery delays).
No US carrier wants to part with boatloads of cash.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Ugh. I can just imagine getting off one of those Airbus leviathans and trying to get my luggage and through customs. No thanks....
Spreading fear. Fear, greed, guilt and envy are the four primary motivators. Every laimstream media story contains at least one of the four.....
If there is a point, it would have to be this: When domestic airlines decide they need to rejuvenate their fleets, Boeing will add significantly to their already enviable backlog. These new orders, when they come, will be for 737s and 787s, predominantly. If Boeing worked a sales agent deal with Russia’s Sukhoi, I think Boeing could sell a fairly large number of Sukhoi Superjet 100s, a 75 to 95 seat regional jet. Boeing has been involved in this project with Sukhoi all along.
See the Wikipedia article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukhoi_Superjet_100
Any US carrier that bought those A-380 turkeys would have a shareholder revolt.
What US carriers need are new regional jets with about 100 passenger capability, and longer haul jets like the 787.
Boeing will eventually sell new 737s and 787s in great numbers to US domestic carriers.
I think US Airways is committed to Airbust products.
BAD EXAMPLE:
Northwest is the anomoly, and has been for years.
Very little actually remains of the original airframes anyway, after constant refits.
The 737-100/200’s are pretty much gone, and many of the 300’s have been scrapped.
The jungle jets and Canadairs have pretty much replaced the narrow-aisle business in America.
Add in that Clinton pretty much destroyed small city air service in the mid 90’s, with a knee-jerk reaction to media lies about propliner safety...
I love those fast little low flying jets like the Embraer.
Simply put, the gap between what a new aircraft delivers over an old aircraft is smaller than its ever been. The older aircraft are doing just fine. AND passengers aren’t willing to pay a premium to sit in a newer plane. In the areas of the market where this isn’t true, you see plenty of new aircraft.
Until we have another great leap like we did from piston to jet, we’ll never see a young fleet of aircraft.
man bites dog,
They are using play book from 50 yrs ago, unwilling to change, will be their demise.
I remember reading a development about a new plane in Australia that is much faster. Almost like the Concorde except the prototype is supposed to be more efficient.
“fast little low flying jets”
East of the Mississippi, those “fast little low flying jets” aren’t flying much faster than the propjets did...
The ATR to O’Hare from Indy took 45 minutes, and flew directly to Gary for Chicago approach. The RJ will often fly to Chicago VIA Fort Wayne, Indiana and JACKSON, MICHIGAN at no faster than 250kts, because of the the need to be sequenced into a higher approach, and is scheduled well over 1 hour (Some days it takes MORE!).
Most days in the Northeast, the max speed east of Pittsburgh is 250 Kts.
The Media hysteria about Propjets killed an entire Industry, and hurt many cities in the process.
Well, that’s a shame but I think it’s a different aspect. I’ve been riding the so-called commuter jets on routes that were always 737s in the past. I appreciate that they provide the airlines with scheduling flexibility and improve flight profitability, while giving me a comfortable, smooth, fast ride on a new plane. Sometimes you get sick of climbing aboard the same old tired looking 737, although I think it’s a fantastic plane and I always feel very safe on it.
Prop jet service to small towns without the airport facilities to handle jets was a great idea. I don’t know why the know-nothings are allowed to kill so many good ideas like nuclear power, to use another example. We need to put those people in their place.
By early in heir career, a typical reporter knows one or two stories. Faces and locales change but its the same damned story.
You're right on. We need to address this Junk Media Hysteria Crisis ASAP!
/JK, Thanks
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